Cold drink/Coke

Informant Info: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont.

verbal Lore: Folk speech, slang–associated Material, food lore

English

United States of America

Context: Carbponated beverage or Soda

Transcript (if verbal lore)

“ If you want a carbonated beverage or a soda to drink, you would ask for a ‘cold drink’ or for a ‘coke.’  The waitress will then come up and  ask you ‘What kind of coke do you want? Do you want a Sprite, a Barqs Root Beer or a Coca Cola.”

Collector’s comments: The two words are synonymous for soda. The term cold drink probably comes from the fact that soda is always served on ice or chilled in New Orleans because the climate is so hot and humid. As such, the slang term is unique to the area because it is so dependent on the city’s climate. The word coke developed into a general slang term because of the popularity of the Coca Cola brand in the city. while coca cola does not have a monopoly on the soda industry, it is highly prevalent and the company does make may different types of soda, such as Sprite or Barq’s root beer. It is a unique slang term to New Orleans because this popularity allowed the brand name to evolve into a general term, which is a phenomenon that doesn’t occur elsewhere in the United States.

Tags/Keywords- New Orleans, Coke,  Cold Drink, Soda, Carbonated beverage